Steam-engine



(No Model.) 4 sheets-sheen 1, C. H, GIFPORD, STEAM ENGINE.

Patented Peb. 8

(No Model.) sheetssneet 2.

C. H. GIPFORD.

STEAM ENGINE. No. 598,627. Patented Feb. 8, 1898.

FIG. 2f.

9am, CL. @M j fa TH: cams PETERS co.. Pnooungo., wAsHlNaroN, b. c.

4 Sheets Sheet 3.

1 C. H. GIFFORD.

(No Model.)

STEAM ENGINE. No: 598,827. Pal-8611888888. 8, 1898.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4L. 0. H. GIFPORD.

STEAM ENGINE.

Noi 598,627.

Patented Feb. 8, 1898.

STATES o cHARLEs H. GIEEoRD, oE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,627, dated February`8, 1898. Application filed April 28, 1896. Serial No. 589,458. (Nomodel.)

.T a/ZZ whom it may concern: n

Beit known that I, CHARLES H. GIEPoRD, a citizen of the United States,residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Steam-Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to construct a four-cylinder single-actingsteam-engine in which the cylinders reciprocate on given planes toaccommodate the movement of the crank, the piston-rods being connecteddirectly to the crank, the usual connecting-rods being dispensed with.

A further object of the invention is to construct the engine in such amanner as to reduce the friction and tobalance the cylinders; and astill further object is to make the engine inf a compact form, as fullydescribed hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l isa perspective view of myimproved steamengine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on theline 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View on the line 33,l Fig. 2, with the cylinders not in section. Fig. 4 is a detached viewof the pistons and pistonrods. Fig. 5 is a side view of one of thecylinder-sections. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7is a plan view of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a piston andpiston-rod. Fig. 9 is a view of a modification of one of thecylinder-sections.

A is the casing of the engine, which is.

shaped as clearly shown in the perspective view, Fig. 1, and mounted onthe base A. The casing has four sections ct at right angles to eachother, in which the cylinders are mounted. Caps A2 are secured to thecasing by bolts and have ways ct', on which travel the cylinders B B'.`The body of each cylin- 'der is cylindricahwhile the base b isquadrangular,`as shown in Fig. 7. This quadrangular base is adapted tothe ways d on the cap A, so that the cylinders will reciprocate in onedirection only, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. In order tobalance these cylinders, I connect the opposite cylinders in pairs byyokes B2 and slot the center portion of the yokes to allow for the freemovement of the crank, and in the base of the cylinders arepacking-strips b2, which make a steam-tight joint between the cylinderand its cap.

D are the pistons, one` for each cylinder,l

and these pistons are connected together by their rods D in the mannerclearly shown in the piston proper, D, the piston-rod D', the'right-angled extension D2, and the segmental box D3, so that when thefour sections are placed together they will interlock, as shown in Fig.4, and when secured by the bolts CZ are held rigidly in place. To insuretheir proper alinement, I form a lip d on the section D?, which rests ina recess d2 in the section D of the adjoining piston-rod, and `I alsoform a projection d3 on the section D2, adapted to a groove d4 in thesection D", so that when the parts are adjusted and secured in positionthe strains are not taken altogether by the bolts. A suitable bushing d5is mounted in theV central opening for the crank e of the shaft E. Thisshaft is adapted to suitable bearings A3 in the casing, and I have shownin the drawings a bearing-boxf, having a series of balls andlwedge-shaped segments f f2, held in place bya cap f3,.a1though it willbe understood that any form of bearing may be substituted for theball-bearing shown.u The shaft also ts snugly the portions ot2 of thecase, which are suitably bushed for the reception of the shaft. Theseportions a2, as well as the bearings A3,`form part of caps A4 A5, thecap A4 being secured to the front of the casing and the cap A5 beingsecured to the rear of the casing.

I will now describe the valve mechanism by which steam is admitted toand exhausted from the several cylinders. It will be understood thatthis mechanism may be modified without departing from the main featuresof my invention.

The valves in the present instance are of the cylinder type and thechests Gr are arranged at an angle in the rearof the casing A and havebushings g, provided with suitable ports communicating one with thepassage c, extending to the base of the cylinder, the othercommunicating with the exhaustchamber C, the interior of` the casingitself ing-box G and has on its enda grooved head i2.

IOn

On the shaft E is a cam E', having the rib e', engaging With the headsi2 of each valverod. The contour of this rib is such that it Willreciprocate the rods and their valves at a given time, so that steamWill be admitted to the cylinders to properly rotate the shaft in themost economical manner.

It Will be understood that in some in stances the engine may be soconstructed that the space C may be the steam-space and the engine mayexhaust to either the atmosphere or into the casing A, which may beconnected to a suitable exhaust-pipe.

In small engines the two opposite cylinders and the yoke may be cast inone piece, but in larger engines I prefer to make the cylinders inseparate castings, as shown in Fig. 9, and tie them together by rods B3instead of the yoke B2.

In order to cushion the cylinders at each end of the stroke When theengine is running at a high speed, I may form dash-pots Jin the casing,as shown in Fig. 3, and provide the cylinders with plungers j, adaptedto the dash-pot, thus overcoming to a considerable extent the inertia ofthe parts of the engine.

The operation of the engine is as follows: The steam is admitted throughthe ordinary throttle-valve to the casing and the valves are so set thatmotion will be imparted to the pistons direct by the steam entering'thecylinders in rotation. The movement of the crank will reciprocate thecylinders on their seats through the medium of the pistons andpiston-rods, so that While the pistons have a longitudinal reciprocationthe cylinders themselves Will have a lateral reciprocation, and as theopposite cylinders are tied together they are counterbalanced, thusobviating the defeet in engines of this type where the pressure of steamforces the cylinders hard upon their seats.

The passages to the cylinders are very simple. The cylinders in thiscase do not act as valves and are, therefore, not complicated. The valvemechanism is entirely independent of the cylinders and the valves can beset from the outside Without dismantling the engine.

It Will be understood that the engine may be modified to act compoundingby enlarging some of the cylinders and rearranging the valve mechanism.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination in a four-cylindersingle-acting engine, of the casing, the cylinders arranged in pairs,the opposite cylinders being rigidly coupled together and adapted toreciprocate laterally, pistons and piston-rods, and a crank-shaft towhich the rods are coupled so'that the pistons and their rods move withthe crank-shaft and reciprocate the cylinders, with valve mechanismcontrolling the iioW of steam to and from the cylinders, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination ofthe casing, the four removable caps secured to thecasing, steampassages in each cap, valve mechanism for governing theflow of steam through these passages, four cylinders, each cylinderadapted to Ways on a cap, the opposite cylinders being connectedtogether, pistons and pistonrods and a crank-shaft to which saidpistonrods are coupled, substantially as described.

3. A multiple piston for a four-cylinder steam-engine made up of foursections, each section consisting of a piston-rod having a piston at oneend, a right-angled extension at the opposite end and a quarter-bearingfor a crank-shaft, the right-angled extension being secured to the rodof an adjoining piston, the Whole When assembled forming the bearing forthe crank-shaft, substantially as described.

. 4. The combination in a multiple-cylinder single-acting engine, of thecasing, four removable caps adapted to the casing having steam-passagestherein and Ways for the cylinders, cylinders adapted to slide on theWays of the caps, the opposite cylinders being rigidly coupled together,a four-arm piston structure adapted to the cylinders, a crank-shaft toWhich the piston structure is coupled, four valve-chests in the casing,valves therefor, means for operating said valves, the casing of theengine forming the steam-chamber, an exhaust-chamber at one side of thecasing, the said valves regulating the iioW of steam to the severalcylinders from the steam-chest, and from the cylinders to theexhaust-chest, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a piston structure for multiple-cylindery engines,the four sections, each section consisting of a piston, a piston-rod anda right-angled extension, the extension of one piston-section beingadapted to be coupled to rods ofan adjoining section,

- lips on one part adapted to enter recesses on the other part, andbolts securing the parts together, substantially as described. 6. Thecombination in a multiple-cylinder single-acting engine, of the casing,removable caps, each cap adapted to a section of-the casing and havingWays for the cylinders', steampassages in each cap, front and rear capshaving bearings for the crank-shaft, cylinders adapted to reciprocate onthe Ways, a piston structure adapted to each cylinder, a crankshaftadapted to the bearings in the-front and rear caps and connected to thepiston struc- CHARLES I-I. GIFFORD.

AViitnesses:

WILL. A. BARR, J os. H. KLEIN.

